Mental Health Awareness Campaign launched

Alliance South Down spokesperson Councillor Patrick Clarke has voiced his support for a new campaign recently launched by the Public Health Agency on mental health awareness and recovery.

Councillor Clarke

The campaign urges those who are experiencing anxiety, distress or despair to talk about their feelings and aims to show that recovery can be achieved through support services.

With almost one in five people showing signs of a possible mental health problem, Northern Ireland’s new campaign on mental health is urging people to talk about their problems.

SPeaking to Newry Times, Clarke stated, “I warmly welcome that the Public Health Agency are raising awareness of the issue of mental health across TV, radio, print and online media, which ultimately aims to highlight that people who have experienced feelings of anxiety, distress or despair can go on to recover with support.

“All too often many people suffer in silence and try to hide and cover up that they are depressed, feeling down, suffering from anxiety and stress or in the depths of despair and perhaps suicidal,” he continued.

“The Public Health Agency and local mental health organisations are there to offer help, support and assistance to those people dealing with a mental health issue.

“It is a widely recognised fact that men in particular are often unwilling or feel uncomfortable about seeking help or talking to someone when they are feeling depressed or suffering from anxiety or other mental health issue.

“The launch of this new mental health campaign which features a man who thought that he could deal with his problems himself, but then realised that he should talk about it should act as encouragement for men to seek help.

“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but in fact is quite the very opposite and is the start of a person’s recovery who have been dealing with a mental health issue.

“There is a lot of support and help available and I would encourage anyone seeking more information on looking after their mental health to contact either their GP or the Public Health Agency,” Clarke added.

Support which is available across Northern Ireland can be found at www.mindingyourhead.info If you or someone you know is in distress or despair, call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. This is a confidential service, where trained counsellors will listen and help immediately on the phone and follow up with other support if necessary.

The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also access the Lifeline website at www.lifelinehelpline.info